The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-10
RAP AT BODY SNATCHING
MR. GAMBLER SPEAKS ON THE
CEMETERY BILL

no Idea ofthe Extent of the Horrible
Practice of the Insur-
ance Forfeiture Clause Gives Rise to
Long Debate.
ATLANTA, GA, July 9.-No session was
held by the Senate today. In the House
Mr.. Gamblers bill for the protection of GENE
teries was called up for third reading. Mr..
Gambler made the first speech of the session,
supporting his bill. He stated that the inn
mediate motive for presenting the bill was
the discovery of recent dissertations of
graves and body stealing in his own county,
and an investigation has since developed the
fact that the unholy traffic continues daily
or nightly in nearly every section of the
State. He gave several well established in
stances which had come to his notice, the
details of which disclose a most distressing
I'D deplorablo state of affairs.
NO REsPECTERs OF PERSONS.
The members of this House would be hor-
rified upon an examination of the burial
places in their several counties TO find the
great number of empty graves, and it will
be found that no distinction of persons is
being made by those engaged in the horrible
business The bill is modelled after the one
in vogue in Pennsylvania. 1t makes grave
robbng felony instead of misdeneanog.
1t is found that many of the subjects stolen
from the Georgia graves are sent TO medl
cal colleges in Ohio, where it is a felony to
receive or sell dead human body eXhumed
from graves in that State.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
The bill provides that dead bodies I'M
claimed by friends, now being buried at
public expense, shall be turned over to
board composed of the Professors of Anat-
omy in the four medical colleges of the
State, to be distributed equitably for dis
secting purposes, to the several colleges
From sixty to eighty bodies year ore suffi-
cient to supply the colleges in the State for
the next four years, and the provisions of
the bill are ample for these requirements.
The bill was passed with certain amend
ments.
THE PENITENTIARY INVESTIGATION.
Mr. McLendon, of Thomas county, Of
fered resolution that the subcommittee of
investigation, appointed from the Peniten-
tiary Committee, be authorized to employ a
stenographer and sergeant-at-arms at an ex-
pense not to exceed SO TO the State, and
also that said committee may be empowered
TO compel the attendance of witnesses and
to examine them under oath. The resolu-
ton was reported TO the Finance Committee
on motion of Mr.. Howell, of Fulton.
House resolution No. 20, for the relief of
the Continental Insurance Company of New
York, was read the third time. Mr. Howell
in support of the resolution, fully explained
the mitigating circumstances which caused
the matter to be presented.
THE RESOLUTION OPPOSED.
The resolution was opposed by Mr.. Nc
Tendon, of Richmond, who thought that
the penalty of forfeiture fixed by the stat
utes in all cases of this character should be
enforced.
Mr. Denny, of Floyd, in answer TO the
gentleman from Richmond, stated that
many resolutions of this character had been
considered by the Finance Committee, and
an unfavorable report had been made upon
nearly all of them. The matter under CON
sideration was recommended to pass in
accordance with common rules of Justice
and equity, which ought not to be over
looked. The delinquency was caused by
defaulting employe i'll Atlanta, who appro-
priated the funds given to him for the pay
ment of this tax. The tax of over $500 was
paid by the company without delay when
the fact become known.
A BAD PRECEDENT.
Mr. Simmons, of Sumter, said that the
adoption of the resolution would be the
establishment of bad precedent The law
should recognize no excuse for its violation
Mr.. Howell said that he had no personal
interest in the matter. The opposition that
had sprung up was a surprise to him, and
uncalled for The subject should be treated
in such a manner as would be employed by
any member in the transaction of their or
binary private business. The State does not
require that the invincible rule of Shylocks
shall govern its transactions. The high
character of the company was referred to.
FAVORED BY MR. HARRELL.
The resolution was also favored by Mr..
Harrell, of Decatur.
Mr.. McCord replied that the recognized
fact of the high character of the company
had no bearing upon the question. The
precedent ought not to be established at our
hands as trustees of the business affairs of
the State.
The Attorney General in q letter to the
Finance Committee expressed the opinion
that as a question of equity the collection of
the penalty ought not to be enforced
Mr.. Gamble, of Jefferson, said that the
degree of delinquence on the part of the
company should control the question.
The resolution was adopted by vote of
81 TO So
The committee to visit the State Uuiver-
pity at Athens is as follows: Messrs Calvin,
Perry, Rawls, Glenn, Moye and Stevens
A letter was read from the Superintend-
emit of the Richmond and Danville railroad
rendering the members of this committee
the use of a special car to Atheus next Mon